How Does Jacobs Use Irony In The Monkey's Paw

One may stutter over the conception that a monkey’s paw holds the power to determine fate, rather than siding with freewill. In the short story, “The Monkey’s Paw,” an average family, located in the middle class discovers a monkey’s paw and are told that they had three wishes upon that magical, yet deceiving item. However, their decisions cost them several, unintended consequences, due to greed within the human mind. The author, W.W. Jacobs uses symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony to convey the peril of wish fulfillment and the dangers of interfering with fate.

In the story, Jacobs uses symbolic images to portray greed the characters contain, convincing them to amend their providence, leading to disconsolate circumstances. For example, this

idea is recognized when the father and son are playing chess, “[…] the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils [...],” (173). In this picture, the game of chess symbolizes a risky scheme that the father and son are at. It is a perilous game in which one must make the wisest decision in order to suppress the opponent and not lose all of the value and time one put into your hard work. This relates to the decision Mr. White has at stake which delineates the impetuous move he makes, losing the only meaningful objects in his life. If he attempts to alter his fate, in both the stratagem and in the real world, he may serve redundant repercussions. In addition, an example using symbolism to express the theme is embodied when Mr. White proclaims, “‘I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact,’ he said slowly. It seems to me I’ve got all I want [...]’ ‘Well, wish for two hundred pounds then; that’ll just do it,” (176). The monkey’s paw is a symbol of human greed and the yearning for complete satisfaction. Containing great avarice, Mr. White’s hunger for wealth forces him to wish for money, in aspiration to refine his ordinary living style to luxury. Hence, leading up to the loss in which they cared most about. All in all, Jacobs depicts the theme of the option one possesses, but the way one responds depends on one’s integrity versus selfishness.
Foreshadowing is also used throughout the story to acknowledge the message of making the fatal mistake of the attempt to manipulate destiny. An model representing this literary element is described when the story opens, “‘Hark at the wind,’ said Mr. White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it,” (173). This adds the dramatic tension to the non concerning event that hints at his significant mistake later on, after it was too late to extricate his son. His son was disabled from seeing the first mistake, which hints at his death in the second, when the choice is more egotistical, due to the craving for riches. Moreover, another example epitomizing a foreshadowing event is exemplified when the author notes, “‘Well, I don’t see the money,’ said his son, as he picked it up and placed it on the table, ‘and I bet I never shall,’” (176). This indicates homogeneous future events, thus, in exchange for their cupidity, they receive their son’s demise. In interchange for his hunger to revamp his standard customs, his motives in life were destroyed. All in all, the corollary of rapacity results in nothing except negative effects, as shown through illustrations of foreshadowing.
The tale’s message of the risk in maneuvering fate creates melancholy results recognized through the use of irony.

For example, a statement recognizing the theme through situational irony is revealed when the Jacobs writes, “And even if they could, now could two hundred pounds hurt you, Father?” (177). The reader may not expect that such a minuscule amount of money could make such a prodigious impact on society. Therefore, constructing situational irony, for the reader may have predicted the money to advance their lives, not make their lives completely miserable. Nevertheless, out of the greed in coveting to alter one’s life to a better perspective often precipitates unpleasant conclusions. In addition, a statement disclosing the identical irony is endorsed when Herbert announces, “‘Well don’t break into the money before I get back,’ said Herbert, as he rose from the table. ‘I’m afraid it’ll turn you into a mean, avaricious man, and we will have to discount you,’” (177). This is ironic because they do actually uncover the money before he returns, but the fact is that he never does arrive again. Also, the main point announces that Herbert is apprehensive that the money will convert him into an uncontrollable, greedy man, when in reality, they already have all of the qualities of rapacious human beings, due to their wish in having a more improved lifestyle. All in all, the element, irony, helps propose the theme of pessimistic aftermaths, while containing narcissistic

demeanors.
In conclusion, the literary components, symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony all help display the theme of acquisitive features and the ambition to make one’s life more compatible has only one option: an atrocious ending. In the story, the family tampers with the dangers of fate, and they pay the true price of sorrow. If only Mr. White thought about how sublime his existence really was and appreciated everything he had, he wouldn’t have been in the situation of losing his son because of some foolish solecism. Imagine if the entire world was permeated with narcissistic people, the world would end in devouring flames of edacity.